RMT Standard UU

[PK Gaming]

Second RMT. This time around I'd like to try my hand at UU.
I've used this time on Shoddy with some success.

Team at first glance

Froslass @ Leftovers - Timid
EVs: 240 HP / 228 Def / 40 Spe
Ability: Snow Veil
- Shadow Ball
- Taunt
- Spikes
- Pain Split

Possibly UU's best pokemon for setting up entry hazards. Froslass is quite the pokemon. Taunt on slower leads or simply start to set up spikes. Froslass guarantee's at least 1 layer of spikes, and setting the other's can be quite easy. I choose Shadow Ball over Icebeam for other Froslass. (which can wreak havoc on my team) Pain split for the the added survivabilility and i've seen be a huge annoyance the other team.

Aggron @ Life Orb
Adamant || Rock Head
252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
~Head Smash
~Rock Polish
~Aqua Tail
~Low kick

With the advent of Headsmash, Aggron has become a rising star in the UU metagame. Instantly shooting up from NU into UU. (He totally deserved it) Aggron handles the metagame quite well, OHKO and 2HKO... pretty much anything! I send in Aggron on something he can force a switch on and get out a RP. After a Rock polish, Aggron outspeeds nearly everything. Aqua Tail is for donphan and other ground types that resist Headsmash. Low Kick is for Registeel and other heavy rock types. This set is capable of sweeping teams as Aggron is nigh unstopabble after a RP.

Unfortunately for Aggron, his 4X times too ground and fighting is quite annoying. Fortunately this can be dealt with my next pokemon who resists all of Aggron's weaknesses.

Altaria @ Leftovers - Calm
EVs: 248 HP / 200 Def / 4 Spe / 56 SpD
Ability: Natural Cure
- Dragon Pulse
- Roost
- Perish Song
- Flamethrower


Despite my fondness of the DD set, the perish song set is quite good as well. Perish song can cause a multitude of switch in's providing my team appropriate time to set up. The mass amounts of switch in's with my entry hazards can cause the opponent's pokemon to slowly wear down their life. Dragon Pulse + Flamethrower for coverage and Roost for healing.

Claydol @ Leftovers
Bold || Levitate
252 Hp / 144 Def / 114 SpA
~Stealth Rock
~Rapid Spin
~Earth power
~Shadow Ball

A superb wall in UU. Claydol is literally the utility pokemon, providing Stealth Rock and being the BEST spinner (imo) in the UU metagame. Claydol can switch into a lot of attacks, namely ground attacks that are mean't for Aggron (where Altaria can't handle the pokemon) Shadow Ball is Rotom and other ghost types that think they can take down Claydol with ease. Earthpower can deal quite a lot of damage too to some common pokes too. He can get rid of entry hazards for my next pokemon...

Arcanine @ Leftovers - Jolly
EVs: 248 HP / 124 Def / 136 Spe
Ability: Intimidate
- Flare Blitz
- ExtremeSpeed
- Morning Sun
- Roar

Arcanine is a pretty powerful threat in today's UU metagame and adds some great bulk to my team.
Flare Blitz sheer power can 2HKO and OHKO many pokemon outright. Morning Sun is for survivibility due to Flare Blitz recoil among other things. While I lose out on some power, I find that leftovers is the superior choice, because Life orb Flare Blitz can take of a lot of life off Arcanine. Roar is for undersireble switch ins and can build up damage with spikes being sent everywhere. ExtremeSpeed for general priority and stopping sweeps right there.

Venusaur @ Leftovers - Sassy
EVs: 236 HP / 20 Spe / 252 SpD
Ability: Overgrow
- Power Whip
- Sludge Bomb
- Sleep Powder
- Leech Seed

My team's biggest answer to Rain dance teams in general. Venusaur has prevented the opponent from outright sweeping my team due to it's ability to come in on RD sweepers and forcing switches. Sleep Powder for general status (and it helps my sweepers dominate) Sludgebomb and Power Whip for general power and STAB and synthesis as a reliable way of healing off damage. Leech seed is perfect for forcing switch in's and causing even MORE entry hazard damage. It also stops some switch in's from seting up.

 

[PK Gaming]

WILL BE UPDATED

Defensive Threats

Blastoise: Switch in Sceptile and KO with Leaf Storm. Gotta be wary of Ice beam.

Chansey: Swellow can switch in fine (after it's been inflicted with toxic) and KO with Facade.

Claydol: Sceptile can switch in and KO with Leaf Storm.

Clefable: Swellow can switch into Clefable and KO with Facade. Aggron can wall this set but needs to be wary of T-wave.

Cloyster: Sceptile can switch into Cloyster when it's setting up and KO. Typhlosion can also do the same.

Lanturn: Sceptile can switch into both STAB attacks (be wary of T-wave) and force it to switch with Energy balls.

Milotic: Sceptile can switch on surf and can OutKO it with 2 Energy balls.

Miltank: Aggron can effectively switch in and wall her, and KO her (or set up) with Headsmash.

Nidoqueen: Sceptile can switch into assorted attacks and KO with Leaf Storm.

Quagsire: Sceptile utterly frightens it and KO's with Leafstorm.

Regirock: Somewhat difficult due to it' bulk, but Sceptile can come in attempt to KO with Leafstorm.

Registeel: Typhlosion is a good revenge killer KO's it with Eruption. Altaria can switch in an finish a off a weakened Registeel with an EQ.

Rotom: Claydol easily switches into and can KO with repeated Shadow Ball use.

Slowbro: Sceptile can switch into Sceptile and KO with Leaftstorm. Claydol can finish a off a weakened slowbro.

Spiritomb: Somewhat annoying. Swellow can switch into (after he's poisoned) and KO with Brave Bird.

Umbreon: Aggron can setup on it, and KO with repeated Headsmash. Swellow can also switch in a KO with repeated Facade use.

Uxie: Somewhat difficult to counter, but I can wittle it down with many pokemon and finish it off with all of them as well. EX: Switch in on SR and Uturn out of there into Claydol for the obvious T-bolt and finish it off with Shadow Ball.

Weezing: Typhlosion can switch into assorted moves and KO with Eruption.


Offensive Threats

Absol: Such annoying pokemon. My team has a lot of difficult with this thing. Prediction is key I suppose, but after a SD, it can deal some sever damage.

Alakazam: Claydol can switch into it's move and KO with shadow ball.

Altaria: Sceptile can revenge KO with HP ice provided it hasn't DD yet. After a DD, Typhlosion can KO with an eruption if it's Hp is at half.

Ambipom: Switch into Aggron when it uses Fake out. Then switch again anticipating the Low kick into Swellow and KO with facade.

Arcanine: Claydol can switch into Arcanine and KO with Earthpower. Swellow can revenge kill it.

Azumarill: Sceptile can switch into Azumarill's AQ and KO with Leafstorm.

Blaziken: Altaria can switch into most of his moves and KO with EQ.

Drapion: What an annoying type choice. Typhlosion and Sceptile can both Revenge KO.

Feraligatr: Before it gets going with DD, Sceptile can switch into both Water fall and EQ and threaten to KO with Leafstorm. After a DD I can only hope to wittle it's Hp away.

Froslass: Typhlosion can switch in on it's setup move and KO with Eruption.

Gallade: Claydol switch into both stab attacks and kill with shadow ball. Typhlosion, Sceptile and Swellow can all revenge kill it.

Hariyama: Claydol can switch into Hariyama and KO with Earthpower.

Hitmonlee: Claydol can switch into Hitmonlee similarly to Hariyama and deal with him in the same way.

Hitmontop: Kinda tough. Sucker punch can be a pain. Claydol can switch into CC and KO with Earthpower. (and survive one Sucker punch)

Honchkrow: Typhlosion can revenge KO with Eruption.

Houndoom: Altaria can switch into assorted attacks and KO with EQ. NP Dark pulse can be troublesome though.

Kabutops: Sceptile can switch into a water attack and attack with energy ball.

Mismagius: Claydol can switch into a T-bolt and KO with Shadow Ball. Unfortunately a Nasty plot Shadow Ball may be to much. Swellow, Typhlosion and Sceptile can revenge KO.

Moltres: If it uses Overheat, I switch into altaria and set up. If it uses Air slash, I switch into Aggron and set up as well.

Nidoking:

Omastar: Sceptile can switch into surf and KO with Energy ball, but I've got to be wary of Ice beam.

Raikou: Claydol can switch into T-bolt and KO with Earthpower.

Rhyperior: Sceptile can switch into EQ and AT but not into Stone edge and KO with EB. IT's easily revenge killed by sceptile though.

Sceptile: Altaria can easily switch into both stab moves and set up/KO.

Scyther: Revenge Killed by typhlosion.

Swellow: Walled by Aggron, Aggron can switch in and KO/setup.

Torterra: Swellow and Sceptile can both switch into it's stab moves and KO with their respectives moves. Typhlosion can revenge kill it.

Typhlosion: Nothing can switch into and take another eruption but he can be revenge killed by Earthpower.

Venusaur: Swellow can switch into most of it's moves (save sludge bomb) and KO with Brave Bird. Aggron can switch into sludge bomb and use Headsmash for some serious damage. Typhlosion can revenge KO.

 

[PK Gaming]

+24 Hour bump.

No holding back right?

 

[DarkCyberElf]

Hmm, first thing I notice is your team's amazing type synergy. Aside from that, nice lead, looks like it would work (if not for all these Regirock/Registeel leads now).

Next thing is a little typo error:

I've used this time on Shoddy with some success.

Don't you mean "team"?

Something I notice about your team is that it is relatively slow (well, initially) and fragile, with your fastest Pokemon reaching only 396 Speed. This means that a Rain Dance team (which is getting very popular) will run right through you, with the common Omastar easily KO'ing and outspeeding all of your 'Mons. And in general, your team can't safely switch into any of their attacks.

Your team would also have issues with stall, as you have no setup sweeper except Aggron (who lacks the power to go through some walls). Also, some of the more balanced teams also have enough power to seriously hurt you, as you have nothing to take on powerful attacks from Honchkrow, Rhyperior, etc. before losing a member eventually.

So, I suggest you keep your two initially bulky sweepers Aggron and Altaria, and replace Typhlosion with Arcanine, and Sceptile with Venusaur.

Here are recommended sets for both:

Arcanine @ Leftovers - Bold
EVs: 248 HP / 228 Def / 32 Spe
Ability: Intimidate
- Flare Blitz
- ExtremeSpeed
- Morning Sun
- Toxic/Will-O-Wisp/Roar

Venusaur @ Leftovers - Calm
EVs: 252 HP / 8 Spe / 248 SpD
Ability: Overgrow
- Power Whip
- Sludge Bomb
- Sleep Powder
- Synthesis

Basically, they secure your team's bulk both specially and physically, with Venusaur better taking attacks from some of the tougher Rain sweepers and Synthesis to rest it off. In general, they take hits much better, and will end up being much more reliable.

In general, your team does have several more weaknesses due to the Pokemon you use together, but I'm not quite sure how to point it out, as your descriptions of WHY you chose a certain 'Mon are quite vague.

Your Swellow lead is interesting, but it doesn't do anything in particular to (a) start one of your sweepers on its rampage, or (2) get rid of certain threats. It seems like you based your team more around how to make sure Swellow's problems go away instead of your actual sweepers or purpose. I suggest trying one that takes advantage of or prepares the rest of your team for a sweep or the long haul. If you want examples, then do explain what exactly your team's purpose is, because it looks like your team helps Swellow, and nothing else.

 

[YaM]

Your team seems really weak to rain. I can see Kabutops/Gorebyss/Ludicolo/Omastar sweeping easily (unless they're outsped by Typhlo but even then Ludicolo will survive) when Rain is up, they will carry super-effective moves on every single member of your team. Kabutops in particular, comes in on an Erupting Typhlosion after it kills Electrode. I think you need either 1. A Bulky Water or 2. Priority. Perhaps Azumarill could replace Altaria, providing bulk, priority, and massive Attack? Claydol already resists Ground and Fighting for Aggron. You could run the SubPunch set along with Aqua Jet and Ice Punch.

 

[PK Gaming]

Thanks for the rate guys.

As you can see, I wanted to go for team that consisted of pokemon that somewhat worked well together AND
a team filled with my favorite pokes.


I like the team replacements, but its a darn shame I can't use Typhlo [favorite poke]


The main reason why I chose Swellow, was because I wanted a lead to be useful after the initial matchup, and a lead that took out as many other leads in the UU metagame.

{stops the #1 UU lead cold in it's tracks}

Its sheer power has made it incredibly versatile as well. I'm on my DSI write now, so I cannot make changes to the team as of now. But tommorow I plan on switching out both typhlo and sceptile.

Hopefully I can salvage my team that way.


PS: Anyone find a way to use Typhlosion to it's maximum potential?

That includes this team or other teams entirely.

 

[Engineer Pikachu]

Swellow @ Toxic Orb
Jolly || Guts
252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
~Facade
~Brave Bird
~U-turn
~Protect


Swellow is such a good lead. It's a shame that it's not used often as a lead but I've had a lot of success using Swellow as a lead. Let's take a look at the top UU leads:

Top 10 UU leads
1. Ambipom: Wow, Ambipom is easily dispatched by swellow. Protect on the first turn as they go for fake out. Swellow than proceeds to outspeed all Ambipom varients and OHKO with Facade.

While your comments are true for straight-off-the-analysis Ambipom with Life Orb or Silk Scarf, there are 2 other relatively widespread Ambi. Those will either be a Rain SupportPom or your Standard lead, carrying either a Damp Rock or a Focus Sash, respectively. Smart RD Ambipom will Rain Dance while you Protect, die from Facade, and have their Omastar sweep through your team. Standard Ambipom cannot be OHKOed by Facade, as their Focus Sash will let them hang on and do 80.84-95.40 with Return, which combined with 2 turns of Toxic, will nearly always kill you. U-Turning to Claydol would be a good choice.

2. Frosslass: Standard suicide lead. Protect as they try to use Ice beam (or spikes if they may) and proceed to OHKO with a boosted Brave Bird.

Standard Suicide Froslass also carry Focus Sash. Once you leave them at 1HP, they OHKO you with their STAB Ice Beam. Heysup's "Prolass" takes ~77% at most, and still OHKOs with Ice Beam. Froslass is actually a huge threat to Swellow. I recommend U-Turning straightaway to Typhlosion so you can kill it with Eruption, as neither Ice Beam nor Spikes will dent Typhlosion. U-Turn also breaks the Sash, and does either ~30% (SSL) or ~18% (P-L) to Froslass.

3. Uxie: Standard support lead. It's quite annoying to deal with since Swellow can't OHKO it. Instead, I u-turn into Claydol and proceed to kill it with Shadow Ball.

U-Turn does ~23% on Uxie, and Claydol's Shadow Ball also does ~23%, a total damage of 33.5% factoring in Leftovers. You'd have to Shadow Ball four more times to kill it.

4. Moltres: Quite an annoying pokemon. I usually protect to see what it does. If it uses Air Slash, I proceed to switch into my Aggron (and set up on it) if decides to use overheat, I switch into Altaria.

OK, but if it decides to U-Turn?

5. Alakazam: It's too bad that Alakazam is outsped by Swellow. Protect on the first turn to see what it locks itself into. I usually KO with Facade, but some sets run scarf, so I may be forced to switch into Claydol.

6. Arcanine: I honestly haven't seen any antil lead Arcanine's. Protect on the first turn to see what Arcanine attempts to use, and switch to an appropriate counter.

7. Spiritomb: I haven't seen any Spiritomb's either and the I cannot find any UU lead sets... However, I don't think Spiritomb's is that difficult to deal with. Protect on the first turn and use Brave Bird to deal with it.

LeadTombs (I just smash words together) are generally barely surviving 2 Brave Birds through Leftovers. TrickBand variants, however, are 2HKO, but just be wary of their Sucker Punch coming off of 422 attack.

8. Cloyster: Somewhat annoying to deal with Swellow alone. Swellow U-turns into Sceptile which threatnens to OHKO with Specs leafstorm.

9. Snover: Pretty easily dispatched. Protect on the first turn and proceed to OHKO with Facade.

10. Electrode: Easily outspeeding Swellow, I U-turn to typhlosion expecting the RD and proceed to OHKO with Eruption. Even in the rain, Eruption will OHKO Electrode (after the U-turn damage)


As you can see, Swellow is a fantastic (and underused) lead. Easily dispatching half of the leads, and needing help with a few. And it's not like Swellow is useless after doing it's initial job. He's still great a OHKO many pokemon as a revenge killer.

Team at first glance

3 of your pokemon are weak to Water and Rock. 2 resist Water, and 2 resist Rock.
4 of your pokemon are weak to Ice, and the other 2 resist it.

These are the glaring weaknesses of your team. Water, Rock, and Ice-type moves are commonly found on rain teams, thanks to Omastar and Kabutops.

DarkCyberElf's Venusaur set of:
Venusaur @ Leftovers - Calm
EVs: 252 HP / 8 Spe / 248 SpD
Ability: Overgrow
- Power Whip
- Sludge Bomb
- Sleep Powder
- Synthesis

This may not work to help against tougher rain sweepers as Synthesis restores only 25% of health under rain. I'd suggest replacing Synthesis with Leech Seed, but that's just me.

I also agree with the Arcanine set, giving your team more bulk. Status really helps your sweepers.

 

[PK Gaming]

I see. As of now Typhlosion and Sceptile are replaced by the Arcanine and venasaur. Do you think that the switch will salvage my team?

 

[DarkCyberElf]

Anyhow, your team's primary worry was its lack of bulk, which at this point, in any metagame (bar Heavy Offense in OU), is foolish not to have.

If you want a sheerfire way of checking some of your hated Rain sweepers, you can change Claydol to Blastoise. Blastoise has the defenses on both ends to survive nearly every attack a Rain team can throw at it bar Qwilfish's Explosion (which I'm sure you can predict Qwilfish's Poison Jab or Explosion and just switch in Aggron). Here is a Blastoise set, although I strongly recommend you run a RestTalk as otherwise Blastoise is torn apart by status.

Blastoise @ Leftovers - Bold
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 6 SpD
Ability: Torrent
- Surf
- Rapid Spin
- Ice Beam / Toxic / Rest
- Roar / Yawn / Sleep Talk

Claydol fits your team better and checks Aggron's weaknesses, so a change to Blastoise may leave your strategy less effective, and you may need to make changes. Claydol can also go over Altaria all together, and you can use another bulky Water like RestTalk Milotic over Blastoise.

Your Swellow lead, as Engineer Pikachu pointed out, is not as effective as I or you thought. Also, Swellow in general cannot KO many of the now bulky leads and is weak to SR, so will die quickly in most games, especially being that the leads you will be killing may have Focus Sash. I suggest using a Bulky Froslass (the one Engineer Pikachu named Heysup's Froslass), as the trio of Arcanine, Venusaur, and a bulky water, along with Aggron (who hates breaking through the Pokemon like Torterra who walls his attacks) who loves Spikes support, make a formidable team. Here is the Froslass set with recommendations:

Froslass @ Leftovers - Timid
EVs: 240 HP / 228 Def / 40 Spe
Ability: Snow Veil
- Shadow Ball / Ice Beam
- Taunt
- Spikes
- Pain Split

First, your team has no spin blocker to make sure Claydol doesn't waste his time, and Froslass, provided you switch out when you know you are going to get KO'd, will stick around quite a while with Pain Split and physical bulk. Initially, Froslass has 248 HP EVs, but 8 were placed into Speed to (1) keep the odd HP number for SR switching, and (2) to outrun and kill other Froslass or Taunt them anyway with Shadow Ball. Your team hates enemy Froslass and hates switching into Spikes, so to get rid of your opponent's before they get so much as one layer of Spikes up goes a long way of dealing with them.

I would have recommended another lead had I not also noticed that your team would benefit from them with the changes, second, you had no spin blocker, and third, you needed a good answer to Hail Stall.

That's enough from me, so good luck with the team!

 

[PK Gaming]

Thanks a lot on the rate guys.
[currently on DSi]

To be quite honest, I generally dislike frosslass, but it seems to well with my team.

It was a shame to see Swellow go, [really wanted him to hold up]

So as of know, my team is:

Frosslass lead
Aggron
Claydol
Arcanine
Venasaur
Blastoise


PS:

Would running Altaria over blastoise be an option? Furthermore,

Swellow is best used as a sweeper, not a lead right? There is no place for him as a lead in the current metagame?


Anyway, I get to play this weekend.
Thanks a million.

 

[Nerdling]

I'm not going to post much, because it's pretty much all been said.

Donphan sort of eats this team alive. Every single one of your pokemon is either OHKOed or 2HKOed by a Choiced Ice Shard/Earthquake. Being as physically bulky as Donphan is, it only takes 34.4% - 40.6% from a head smash off Aggron (your most powerful physical attack). This means he can easily come in on a physical threat and mess shit up. On the special side, donphan can survive almost everything typhlosion can dish out, even survinging a full power eruption the vast majority of the time (85.4% - 100.8%). The only way you can deal with it is by RKing it with sceptile, since it cannot switch in and take an ice shard (68.1% - 80.9%) or an earthquake (63.8% - 75.5%).

See the problem?

 

[DarkCyberElf]

No Donphan in UU has ever been choiced, Rhyperior and others simply outclass it in that department. Donphan is no threat to Claydol either.

Why are Claydol and Blastoise on the same team? Two Rapid Spinners? Why?

Your team should act on Froslass's support and take advantage of your entry hazards to cause switches. Pick one of the two between Claydol and Blastoise as your Spinner, and then find a good last slot. Also, fix your thread to what your team is currently, otherwise new raters might not read all the posts and post something redundant. *points at Nerdling* ^

 

[PK Gaming]

Okay, sorry for the absence. Updated OP and will update threats later.

Also DarkCyberElf, that arcanine set runs impish right?
Bold lowers attack as opposed to impish with lowers SpA (which the Arcanine doesn't use)

 

[DarkCyberElf]

Yes my mistake, Fire Blast is supposed to be over Flare Blitz unless you are using Jolly/Adamant. Personally, I use a spread of 248 HP / 124 Def / 136 Spe Jolly on my Arcanine, as the 136 Spe Jolly outspeeds Base 80's, which is pretty important in UU.

Also, I think Altaria should run the Perish Song set, as otherwise you have nothing to stop Cresselia from massacring your team. Also, it helps just in general to get rid of Calm Minders like Raikou and Mismagius, etc. It also stacks up entry hazard damage because it forces your opponent out or risk losing their Pokemon. It is also bulky and better takes all attacks aimed at Aggron. Here is the set:

Altaria @ Leftovers - Calm
EVs: 248 HP / 200 Def / 4 Spe / 56 SpD
Ability: Natural Cure
- Dragon Pulse
- Roost
- Perish Song
- Flamethrower

Dragon Pulse + Flamethrower is unresisted in UU, and can do some damage when Altaria isn't Perish Song-ing. Roost for obvious reasons. For the last slot, there isn't much of a selection, but you can use a gimmick like FeatherDance, Haze, or Heal Bell if you want even more support.

Well, I can't think of anything else, so good luck with the team.

Edit: Ah yes, a nitpick of sorts: Use Leech Seed over Synthesis, this will rack up switches even faster than normal, and serves as a bit of an insurance policy against Pokemon trying to outstall you or set up.

 

[Bluewind]

Run Sassy instead of Calm as Venusaur's nature; you don't want to lower its Power Whip damage and make it harder to break through Milotic and check Raikou. Also, I recommend a spread of 236 HP/ 252 SpDef/ 20 Spe. These extra speed EVs allow you to outspeed standart Walrein, which isn't very common but it's good to be prepared to face and Adamant Rhyperior, to which you have no rightful counter.

Good luck =)

 

[PK Gaming]

So I think I've finished adding the finishing touches guys. I know my team isn't going to win any ladderboards soon, but I think we've created something special guys. Thanks a lot, and I couldn't have done it without you guys.

PS: (what's the 4 speed EV's on Altaria for?)

 

[DarkCyberElf]

Run Sassy instead of Calm as Venusaur's nature; you don't want to lower its Power Whip damage and make it harder to break through Milotic and check Raikou. Also, I recommend a spread of 236 HP/ 252 SpDef/ 20 Spe. These extra speed EVs allow you to outspeed standart Walrein, which isn't very common but it's good to be prepared to face and Adamant Rhyperior, to which you have no rightful counter.

Good luck =)

Use the set Bluewind suggested, but Careful nature is also an option if you want to retain your speed.

PS: (what's the 4 speed EV's on Altaria for?)

You have 4 leftover EVs from HP (your HP number is odd to increase recovery when you switch into Stealth Rock and make sure you can do it at least 4 times), and this allows you to outspeed Altaria running the same set. Otherwise, there isn't much point xD